Positive Psychology in Student Affairs Leadership

Stress got you down? Difficulty coping with change? Struggling to keep up? Afraid to take risks? Positive Psychology is a field of study that examines healthy states, such as happiness, mindfulness, self-awareness, and optimism. On this episode of Student Affairs Live, host Tony Doody speaks with Keith Edwards, Grant Anderson and Heather Shea Gasser as they explore concepts of vitality, optimism, and well-being. Learn to improve your leadership and well being as guests share research and insights from these great books.

Daring greatly: How the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent, and lead.

The power of less: The fine art of limiting yourself to the essential– in business and in life.

Making Hope Happen: Create the future you want in business and life.

Nudge: Improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness.

Contribute to the dialogue by tweeting your questions to #higheredlive during the show and we’ll do our best to incorporate them as time allows.

Episode Host

Tony Doody

Tony Doody has over 25 years of practical experience and oversight in senior leadership positions within the Higher Education industry in the areas of Facilities Management, New Student Orientation, Recreation, Parent and Family Programs, Leadership and Training, Marketing and Communications, Adult Learning, and Major Events and Programs.
Over the last six years, Tony has presented at over thirty universities and national conferences on topics of innovation, digital leadership, technology, and unconventional leadership. He received the Diamond Honoree Award from the ACPA Foundation, the highest honor of the American College Personnel Association, recognizing transformative contributions to the field (2017) and earned NASPA's 2017 Technology Emerging Practice Award.
In addition, Tony has worked over 20 years as a consultant in the areas of executive coaching, leadership development, presentation skills, risk-taking, innovation, social media, conflict resolution, and team cohesiveness. Past clients include J&J, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Vistakon, Navigant, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, United Way, Merrill Lynch, Tumi International, and Aventis Pharmaceuticals.

Guests

Keith Edwards

Over the past 15 years Keith has spoken and consulted at more than 70 colleges and universities on sexual violence prevention, men’s identity, social justice education, curricular approaches, and leadership. His research, writing, and speaking has received national awards and recognition including ACPA Dissertation of the Year and ACPA Diamond Honoree. Keith is the Director of Campus Life at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN where he provides leadership for the areas of residential life, dining and card services, and campus conduct. He is also an affiliate faculty member in the Leadership in Student Affairs program at the University of St. Thomas, where he teaches graduate courses on diversity and social justice in higher education.

Grant Anderson

Grant Anderson aspires to help every individual maximize their potential, growth, and opportunities in an effort to reach their dreams and have a positive impact on society. He has presented and consulted nationally, regionally, and locally in the areas of leadership development, Strengths, positive psychology, social justice education, residential curriculum, and much more. Grant has spent the last 12 years at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where he is currently the Assistant Director for Residential Life and Student Development. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Hamline University, Masters of Science in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University, and is a Doctoral Candidate in Higher Education at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

Heather Shea Gasser

Heather Shea Gasser’s career in student affairs spans 16+ years and five different campuses, and involves experience in many different functional areas including residence life, multicultural affairs, women’s centers, student activities, leadership development, and commuter/nontraditional student services. Heather is currently serving as the assistant director of RISE (Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment), a living-learning community at Michigan State University while also a full-time doctoral student in MSU’s HALE (Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education) Program. Connect with Heather on Twitter at @heathergasser.

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Great colleagues from #CSUSAHE presenting on a fabulous topic! I presented on a similar topic a couple years ago and would add a couple more books to the list: Matthew Kelly’s Rhythm of Life and Martin Seligman’s Authentic Happiness and Learned Optimism. I look forward to listening to the podcast.

Tony Doody

Thanks for the kudos Wendy. We’re excited for tomorrow’s show. I’ll see if any of the guests have read these books and if they can incorporate them into the discussion.